Bowling pins



1966 JEAN-PIERRE ABBAT 3,232,614

BOWLING PINS Filed March 2'7, 1961 INVENTOR.

Jean-Pierre Abbar ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,232,614 BilvVLING'PENSJean-Pierre Abbat, New Rochelle, N.Y., assignor, by direst and mesneassignments, to Duration Corporation, West Covina, Calih, a corporationof Delaware Filed Mar.-27,11961, Ser. No. 98,370 llCiaims. (Cl. 27382)This invention relates to bowling pins, and moreparticularly concernsbowling pins formed of non-wood materials.

Conventional bowling pins :are made of sound, hard maple in one piece orof laminated construction. Such pins must meet set specifications as toweight, moisture content, height andsurface configuration, to be deemedstandard and acceptable for use in leagues and tournaments recognized bythe American Bowling Congress (ABC).

With the progressive increase in popularity of bowling and the limitedavailability of acceptable maple, dimculties are being encountered inmeeting the demand for wood pins. Furthermore, wood pins have arelatively limited useful life and even such normal life appears to besomewhat reduced by the hard usage encountered by the pins in relationto the automatic, mechanical pin setter which handles the same.

Wood pins, after extensive use, are refinished to extend their usefullife, but such rehabilitation procedures do not materially increase theavailable pin supply. While attempts have been made to provide pins ofnon-wood materials which have a greater normal life in use; suchmaterials have not been widely accepted inasmuch as pins made from suchmaterials ,do not exhibit all the well known characteristics andproperties of a wood pin.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a novel pindesign which permits the use of materials highly resistant to wear,abrasion and impact; the resultant pin not only having an extended spanof life, but further, faithfully reproducing the well known propertiesof wood pins in use, thereby making such novel pinshighly acceptable bybowlers.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved bowling pindesign which permits the use of a variety of materials in theconstruction thereof, and allows a selection of such materials invarious combinations thereof and in terms of manufacturing costs, usefullife expectancy and the like, while still retaining the essentialstandards and specifications of a wood pin.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved bowlingpin design which allows for precision manufacture of mass produced pins,at reduced costs; yet providing pins fully equivalent to a wood pin inrespect to the essential properties thereof, which may be produced inprecisely matched sets and which have a substantially increased span oflife as compared to that of wood pins.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view-of a bowling pinembodying the invention; FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken onthe line 22 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1,showing a modified form of the invention; FIG. 4 is a view similar tothat of FIG. 1, showing still another embodiment of the invention; FIG.5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4; andFIG. 6 is an enlarged, partial sectional view showing a modified form ofjoint between pin sections.

In designing a bowling pin to be formed of materials other than wood,the replacement pin must have an outer surface configuration whichconforms precisely to the standards and specifications laid down by theABC. Such 3,232,6l4 Patented Feb. 1, 1966 configuration is defined as asurface of revolution about a vertical axis with the radii measured fromsuch axis to the surface at prescribed heights above the'base of thepin, having precise-values; vAlso,-'the center of gravity of the pinmust be located at a predetermined point and the weight of the pinmustbe kept within prescribed limits.

It has been found that a bowling pin may be formed of selected materialsother than wood and still show the well known and desiredcharacteristics of a wood pin, when the novel pincomprisesessentially ashell-like outer member and a core member fitted within the :outermember. Furthermore, the inner surface of the'outer member and the outersurface of the core member-take the form of surfaces ofrevolution'ofdetermined configuration.

Since the outer surface of the's-hell like outer member is standardizedas to configuration :in accordance with the specifications .of the ABC,the surface configuration of the inner surface of theshell-like memberand that of the outer surface of the core member is determined as afunction of points in the *outer surface of the shelllike member; andalso taking into account vthe specific gravities of thematerials fromwhich the shell-like and core members are formed, as 'well. asthespecific gravity of the wood from which a conventional wood pin isformed.

The pin of the instant invention may have its outer shell-like memberformed of various materials, selected on the basis of specific gravity,abrasion resistance, impact resistance and other physical properties.Thus, the shell-like outer member may be formed of metal, metal alloy,polymeric synthetics in filled or unfilled form and in solid or cellularform; including steel, aluminum, polyurethane, polypropylene,- epoxyorphenolic resins. Similarly, the core member is formed of selectedmateria1s,,including thoseenumerated above, as well as other materialshaving lesser :degrees of resistance 'torabrasion, impact and the like,including plaster, hard rubber, filled papier mache, unfilled phenolicresinsand the like.

By way of'illustrat-ion, in FIG. 1 is shown a pin P embodying theinvention. The same comprises an outer shell member 11 and a core member12 within member 11. Themember 11 has an outer surface 13 which is asurface of revolution about the vertical axis XX and is of standardizedconfiguration as prescribed by the ABC. Typically, radial measurementsat various height levels taken in respect to base 14 of thepin, are asfollows: at 0-1.-125"; at 2.2 l.94 at 4.5"2.387"; at 7.25"1.85"; at-l0"-0.835; at 11.75"1.047"; and at 13.5"-1.273".

The inner surface 15 of shell-like member 11 and outer surface 16 ofcore member 12-are determined as surfaces of revolution with respect toaxis XX, in terms of surface 13 and the-specific-gravities of thematerials of members 11, 12 and .of maple wood of the type used inmalq'ng a wood pin. 7

Thus, where R is the radius measured from axis XX to a given point insurface 13 of member 11 at a given height above base Y14, and a knownquantity based on ABC specifications and where R is the radius from saidaxis XX to a corresponding pointin surface 15 of member 11 at the samegiven height above base, then R =R k k being a constant calculated inthe manner later described. Accordingly, the inner surface 15 of member11 may be completely defined to permit the formation of said member 11.

Similarly, the outer surface 16 of member 12 may be defined bycalculating R values with respect to axis XX at various heights frombase 14, 'from'the equation 3 k being a constant calculated in themannerhereinafter described. The resultant surfaces of revolution 15, 16 willbe in opposed relation with a space 17 therebetween. It has been foundthat the value of the constant k may be obtained from the equation:

where S is the specific gravity of the material from which member 11 isformed; S is the specific gravity of the material from which member 12is formed; and S is the specific gravity of the wood from which aconventional wood pin is formed. S and S are different and greater thanS When S is greater than S E=+1; and when S is greater than S E=1.

Similarly, the value of the constant may be obtained from the equation:

It will be apparent that with the values for k and k calculated in termsof the materials selected for forming members 11, 12, their respectivesurfaces may be determined. The shell and core members 11, 12 may thenbe formed by appropriate operations including molding, casting, pressingor the like.

Thus, if pin P shown in FIG. 1 is to have a shell member 11 formed ofpolyurethane and core member 12 formed of phenolic resin, the membersmay be premolded of the respective materials. Member 11 has its tipformed with a small central opening 18 and core member 12 is formed atits tip with a small projection 19 receivable in opening 18. Aspolyurethane member 11 is elastomeric, the same may be resilientlydistended to pass core mem ber 12 interiorly thereof for assemblytherewith. A small washer 20 at base 14 of pin P iscemented in place tocomplete the proper assembly of members 11, 12.

Alternatively, the pin may be formed by successive molding operations.Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the premolded core member 12 is used as aninner mold element for molding thereabout a light, rigid cellular mass21, such as foamed polyurethane. Mass 21 fills the space 17 indicated inFIG. 1. The outer surface 22 of cellular mass 21 corresponds to thepredetermined inner surface of the shell member 11A and is moldedaccordingly. Outer surface 22 of body 21 now provides a mold element forthe shell member 11A which is now molded about said body 21. Body 21 isvery light and does not materially affect the calculations fordetermining the surface configurations of core member 12 and shellmember 11A. Body 21 also maintains members 11A, 12 in their properrelationship. Thus, shell member 11A may be formed of a non-extensiblematerial, by virtue of the combined molding and assembly operationsdescribed.

Also, if desired, the shell member may take the form of a plurality ofpremolded sections which are interfitted and assembled with the coremember. As shown in FIG.

4, pin 25 comprises a core member 26 in premolded form with slightlydovetailed portions 27, 28 at the opposite ends thereof. The shellmember 29 is made up of premolded cuplike sections 30, 31 providing thetop and bottom portions of the pin respectively and a pair of matingsemi-cylindrical sections 32, 33 forming the intermediate portion of thepin.

The pin sections 32, 33 are formed with mating tongue and grooveportions 34, 35 along their opposed vertical edges. The lower peripheraledge portion 36 of top section 30 and the upper peripheral edge portion37 of intermediate sections 32, 33 are interconnected as by shiplapjoint portions 38, 39. Similar joint portions are provided to connectbottom section 31 with intermediate sections 32, 33.

The top shell section 30 is formed at its tip with an opening 40complementary to tip portion 27 on core member 26 while the bottom wall4-1 of the bottom shell section 31 is formed with an opening 42complementary to projecting portion 28 on core member 26.

The several shell sections 30, 31, 32 and 33 may be assembled togetherand with core member 26 and adhesive may be applied at the several jointlines. However, with the shell sections being formed of slightlyyieldable material, the top and bottom sections 36, 31 may be snappedinto place with respect to core member 26, locking the interenegagedportions 27, 40 and 28, 42 and thereby holding all the shell sectionsfirmly together.

Other means may be used to hold the shell and core members in properlyassembled relationship, as by screws, press fit portions and the like.Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, the sections 30, 32 may be interlocked bydovetail joint portions 38' and 39' which are snapped together duringthe assembly of the several sections as described above.

Also, the cellular mass 21 may be formed in place after the members 11Aand 12 have been assembled, as by injecting a suitable polyurethanecomposition which will foam into place.

As various changes might be made in the embodiments of the inventionherein described without departing from the spirit thereof, it isunderstood that all matter herein shown or described shall be deemedillustrative and not by way of limitation except as set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bowling pin comprising an outer shell member and an inner coremember, interengagable means on at least one end of said members formaintaining said members with their respective vertical axes incoincidence and for preventing relative movement of said members alongsaid axes, said shell member having outer and inner surfacesrespectively describing surfaces of revolution with respect to saidaxes, said core member having an outer surface describing a surface ofrevolution with respect to said axes and in opposed relation to theinner surface of said shell member, the outer surface of said shellmember being of standardized configuration, the inner surface of saidshell member being such that any point in said surface shall have aradius measured from said axes which is proportioned to the radius of acorresponding point in the outer surface of said shell member measuredfrom said axes, and the outer surface of said core member being suchthat any point in said outer surface shall have a radius measured fromsaid axes which is proportioned to the radius of a corresponding pointin the outer surface of said shell member measured from said axes,wherein the value of the ratio of the inner radius of the shell memberto the outer radius thereof at any point between the top and bottomportions of said pin is constant and the value of the ratio of theradius of the core member to the outer radius of the shell member atsaid point betweenthe top and bottom portions of said pin is constant.

2. A bowling pin as in claim 1 wherein said members are formed ofmaterials having a specific gravity greater 5 than 0.60 and the specificgravities of said members are different.

3. A bowling pin as in claim 1 wherein said shell memher is formed ofrigid polyurethane.

4. A bowling pin as in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the outershell member is spaced from the outer surface of the inner core memberand a cellular rigid filling is disposed between said members formaintaining said members with their vertical axes in coincidence.

5. A bowling pin as in claim 1 wherein said shell and core members arepremolded elements and the shell member has an extensible opening in itswall whereby the core member may be inserted within said shell member.

6. A bowling pin as in claim 1 wherein said shell member comprises aplurality of walled sections having interengageable meeting edgeportions.

7. A bowling pin as in claim 1 wherein a light rigid cellular mass is inintegrated relation to said core member and said shell member is inintegrated relation to said rigid cellular mass.

8. A bowling piri as in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of said outershell member is spaced from the outer surface of said inner core memberand the shell member and the core member are formed or" materials havingthe same specific gravity and R =R k and R =R k k being equal to S0 Ts.

R and R being radii measured from the vertical axis of said members to agiven point in the inner surface of said shell member and the outersurface of said core member respectively at any given height above thebase of said pin, R being the radius measured from said axis to theouter surface of said shell member at said given height above the baseof the pin; S being the specific gravity of the material from which saidmembers are formed, and S beand k being equal to 6 ing the specificgravity of wood from which wood pins are formed.

9. A bowling pin as in claim 1 wherein said shell member comprisescup-shaped upper and lower sections and a pair of vertically splitintermediate sections, said intermediate sections having interfittingjoint portions on the opposed vertical edges thereof, said intermediate,upper and lower sections having interfitting joint portions on theopposed annular edges thereof.

10. A bowling pin as in claim 9 wherein said cupshaped sections andrespectively adjacent end portions of said core member have cooperative,interlocking portions for holding said shell member sections and saidcore member in assembled relation.

11. A bowling pin as in claim 1 wherein said shell member is formed of arigid, abrasion resistant polymeric synthetic resinous material and saidcore member is formed of a molded synthetic resinous material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 573,797 12/1896Rockwell 273-82 1,205,278 11/ 1916 Skalla 273-82 1,491,279 4/1924Stewart 273-82 2,202,674 3/ 1940 Seaman et al 273-82 2,289,872 7/1942Brinkmann 18-59 2,684,504 7/1954 Sell 18-59 2,797,923 7/1957 Dettman273-82 2,944,821 7/1960 Mason 273-82 2,968,485 1/1961 Aler 273-823,012,987 12/1961 Ansul. 3,025,061 3/1962 Ernst et al 273-82 3,037,7716/1962 Gambino 273-82 3,138,380 6/1964 Satchell et al; 273-82 3,147,9749/ 1964 Tomarkin 273-82 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. DELBERT B.LOWE, Examiner. LOUIS I. BOVASSO, Assistant Examiner.

1. A BOWLING PIN COMPRISING AN OUTER SHELL MEMBER AND AN INNER COREMEMBER, INTERENGAGABLE MEANS ON AT LEAST ONE END OF SAID MEMBERS FORMAINTAINING SAID MEMBERS WITH THEIR RESPETIVE VETICAL AXES INCOINCIDENCE AND FOR PREVENTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBERS ALONGSAID AXES, SAID SHELL MEMBER HAVING OUTER AND INNER SURFACESRESPECTIVELY DESCRIBING SURFACES OF REVOLUTION WITH RESPECT TO SAIDAXES, SAID CORE MEMBER HAVING AN OUTER SURFACE DESCRIBING A SURFACE OFREVOLUTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID AXES AND IN OPPOSED RELATION TO THEINNER SURFACE OF SAID SHELL MEMBER, THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SHELLMEMBER BEING OF STANDARDIZED CONFIGURATION, THE INNER SURFACE OF SAIDSHELL MEMBER BEING SUCH THAT ANY POINT IN SAID SURFACE SHALL HAVE ARADIUS MEASURED FROM SAID AXES WHICH IS PROPORTIONED TO THE RADIUS OF ACORRESPONDING POINT IN THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SHELL MEMBER MEASUREDFROM SAID AXES, AND THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID CORE MEMBER BEING SUCHTHAT ANY POINT IN SAID OUTER SURFACE SHALL HAVE A RADIUS MEASURED FROMSAID AXES WHICH IS PROPORTIONED TO THE RADIUS OF A CORRESPONDING POINTIN THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SHELL MEMBER MEASURED FROM SAID AXES,WHEREIN THE VALUE OF THE RATIO OF THE INNER RADIUS OF THE SHELL MEMBERTO THE OUTER RADIUS THEREOF AT ANY POINT BETWEEN THE TOP AND BOTTOMPORTIONS OF SAID PIN IS CONSTANT AND THE VALUE OF THE RATIO OF THERADIUS OF THE CORE MEMBER TO THE OUTER RADIUS OF THE SHELL MEMBER ATSAID POINT BETWEEN THE TOP AND BOTTOM PORTIONS OF SAID PIN IS CONSTANT..